tag:destructoid.com,2006:blogDutch's Blog :: DESTRUCTOIDhttp://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/avatars/9/11329.jpgDutchhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Dutch2007-12-21T14:15:35Ztag:destructoid.com,2008:120837Should Gamers Have An Expectation Of Semi-Realism?2009-02-06T13:18:58Z2009-02-06T13:18:58ZAs I was playing through the Resident Evil 5 Demo, something struck me. Games have for a long time been viewed as a way to immerse yourself in a fantasy world. By nature, that means realism can more or less be thrown out the window. But as we move up and forward with technology and time, do we have a rising expectation of realism in games?
<br/>
<br/>Games didnt always look and feel the way they do now. Remember when a gun consisted of essentially an off-colored L in a characters hands and the bullets were a white line going across the screen? We had no expectation of realism with games until they stopped being played on a two-dimensional environment. Playstation and Nintedo 64 were really the first systems that consistently brought what we would have called realism to the table. Even with that being said, they were still pixelated enough and fake enough to warrant out-of-the ordinary events or situations.
<br/>
<br/>Weve progressed since then.
<br/>
<br/>Today, ultra-realistic is a term that can be used to describe the visuals in many current gen games. The reason for this? Immersion. Developers see high definition visuals as a way to help put the gamer directly into the antagonists shoes. Sure there are other ways of doing this, such as motion controls, force feedback peripherals, and 3D glasses (experimental for games), but the developers have complete control over how a game looks. They are hampered only by the vision of their designers, skill of their programmers, and capabilities of the machines they are creating for.
<br/>
<br/><img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/11329-120837-re5bicepJPG-468x.jpg"/>
<br/>
<br/>Resident Evil is no exception. Using RE5 as an almost exclusive example in this article, the characters and enemies are rendered to an almost unmatched level of detail. The weapons are perfect replicas, the characters look lifelike (beyond Chris too-huge biceps), and even the killer flying beetles, though non-existent in real life (I hope), look lifelike.
<br/>
<br/>We are also seeing ultra-realistic physics in games. Enemies crawl, and pull themselves onto upper ledges, they also fall at what appears to be the normal speed of gravity. Everyday objects, such as helicopters, fly exactly as you would expect them to. When we see something that looks realistic on screen, and it feels like the world reacts the same way as it would in real life,should we have an expectation that the same holds true across all plains for that title?
<br/>
<br/><img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/11329-120837-re5averageJPG-468x.jpg"/>
<br/>
<br/>Understanding that enemies infected with parasites capable of emerging from the necks of their walking, decapitated hosts, the expectation is set to the gamer that their bodies are somehow different than the normal human being. Hence their ability to take loads of damage without going down. But when you shoot them in a leg, they still fall. Shoot them in the arm, they drop what they are holding. They are still limited to the functions and weaknesses of the human structure which makes defeating them less a feat of raw power and more a feat of tactics and strategy.
<br/>
<br/>That is, until you fight a boss. When fighting a boss, every expectation you had must be, for some reason, thrown out the window. Though the physics of the world are the same, the graphic realism is the same, and the boss may be nearly identical to the average baddies youve killed thousands of, something is inexplicably different. Again, still understanding that boss enemies have something more than the regular enemy, the limits are nevertheless gone.
<br/>
<br/>Larger than life enemies, such as the axe-toting Executioner you meet in the RE5 demo, or El Gigante from RE4, are obvious exceptions to normal expectations. You would expect that they would be extremely difficult to take down because they are clearly not normal in any sense of the word. No-one expects that a bullet in the knee would take them down because they are well beyond human. They are bigger, more powerful, and less tactical than any normal baddie and defeating them is normally about evading and dishing out damage to their sweet spots. But what about a normal looking boss, such as the Chainsaw boss in RE5?
<br/>
<br/><img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/11329-120837-re5chainsawJPG-468x.jpg"/>
<br/>
<br/>The chainsaw boss is normal in every way compared to the average infected, except he has a chainsaw and a creepy burlap sack over his head. Unfortunately, he is far from what you would expect. While playing through the demo, he was impervious to three of my grenades that exploded under his feet, two exploding barrels, several close range rifle shots as well as countless shots from a pistol, many in the head. He doesnt falter when you shoot out a kneecap, nor does he react when you shoot his arms or even head. Only explosions or doling out certain amount if hit points would make him stumble. It becomes a battle of hit points and raw power, straying from the strategy and gameplay of nearly every other part of the game.
<br/>
<br/>Not that war and action movies or even documentaries always demonstrate strict realism, but we know better. Hell, anyone who has ever watched the History Channel knows that one grenade under someones feet will surely cripple them if not chop them down a foot or two. Two grenades will chop them down a couple more feet, and if you get to three grenades you can assume that the target is basically liquefied. If the physics and graphics in a game hold ultra realistic vantage points, shouldnt this hold at least somewhat true throughout the entire game? I mean, the boss characters dont mutate into titanium or steel, nor are they diamond coated, are they?
<br/>
<br/>At some point, in my honest opinion, games need to give. We are no longer in an age when enemies and games are looked at as pixels, they are full fledged immersive and lifelike experiences. With that should come a basic expectation of realism in our games. Make sense? What do you think?
<br/>
<br/>[Note: This was originally posted at my blogz <a target="_blank" href="http://www.1337life.com">here</a>.] <p class="post-photos">
<a href="http://www.destructoid.com/elephant/photo.phtml?post_key=120837&photo_key=80546">
<img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/11329-120837-re5bicepJPG-75x.jpg" alt="Photo " />
</a>
<a href="http://www.destructoid.com/elephant/photo.phtml?post_key=120837&photo_key=80547">
<img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/11329-120837-re5averageJPG-75x.jpg" alt="Photo " />
</a>
<a href="http://www.destructoid.com/elephant/photo.phtml?post_key=120837&photo_key=80548">
<img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/11329-120837-re5chainsawJPG-75x.jpg" alt="Photo " />
</a>
</p>
tag:destructoid.com,2008:118653Top 10 Things To Do When Your Xbox Dies2009-01-20T10:19:58Z2009-01-20T10:19:58ZIf you own an XBOX360, you know what Im talking about. The freezing, the lagging, the infamous red ring of
<br/>death, etc, etc, etc. But what can we do when the inevitable happens? I can think of 10 possible solutions.
<br/>
<br/><img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/11329-118653-rrodjpg-468x.jpg"/>
<br/>
<br/>10. Throw your controller into the wall. What good is a broken system without a broken controller to match.
<br/>
<br/>9. Cry. Just a little bit. Its about time you let your feelings go after being belittled and virtually peed on by
<br/>overly aggressive, homophobic, antisemitic, and racist preteens on your favorite M rated games.
<br/>
<br/>8. Put down the baseball bat and call Microsoft. Going all Office Space on it wont actually solve anything.
<br/>
<br/>7. Play a different console. Sure gamerscore and XBOX Live are addicting and well done, but surely there is
<br/>at least one current gen console (see: all current gen consoles) that are more reliable with a few decent
<br/>software titles.
<br/>
<br/>6. Go outsi....errr.... nevermind.... Stay inside.
<br/>
<br/>5. Catch up on your Battlestar Gallactica. You know you love that fracking show.
<br/>
<br/>4. Dust off your retro stuff and play some nostalgic favorites. Remember how much you pwnd at Duck
<br/>Hunt?
<br/>
<br/>3. Pretend that it didnt happen. Sit in front of the TV with your controller and headset while screaming and
<br/>cursing at the difficulty level of the game for hours on end. No one will think youre crazy right?
<br/>
<br/>2. Develop a normal sleeping schedule. Believe it or not, most people think 6am for a bed time is a bit
<br/>excessive unless you work 3rd shift.
<br/>
<br/>1. Host a funeral for your long lost 360 complete with a wake and processional to the local FedEx drop off.
<br/>
<br/>~sk33t sk33t~
<br/>
<br/>Originally posted <a target="_blank" href="http://www.1337life.com/?p=1348">here</a>. <p class="post-photos">
<a href="http://www.destructoid.com/elephant/photo.phtml?post_key=118653&photo_key=77941">
<img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/11329-118653-rrodjpg-75x.jpg" alt="Photo " />
</a>
</p>
tag:destructoid.com,2008:67978Workmeng <3 Kitties2008-02-01T00:31:39Z2008-02-01T00:31:39ZFound randomly while enjoying lolcat videos. Check out about 1:27 to see what I mean. What would we do without you, Ron?
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>[embed]67978:7507[/embed]tag:destructoid.com,2008:61018Velocity Micro Giveaway Contest: Wonder Woman Upskirt Edition2007-12-23T01:43:26Z2007-12-23T01:43:26Z<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2225/2130599142_643d7e2136_o.jpg"/>
<br/>
<br/>i...love...myself...sob...
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>No idea where this came from? Follow the links to past entries.
<br/>
<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Dutch/velocity-micro-giveaway-contest-etc-no-sex-for-virtualgirl-edition-60518.phtml">Entry 1</a>
<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Dutch/velocity-micro-giveaway-contest-no-sex-for-vg-edition-2-60788.phtml">Entry 2</a>
<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Dutch/velocity-micro-giveaway-contest-bitch-edition-60875.phtml">Entry 3</a>
<br/>
<br/>Will there be more carnage?tag:destructoid.com,2008:60875Velocity Micro Giveaway Contest: Bitch Edition2007-12-22T00:45:12Z2007-12-22T00:45:12ZIt only goes downhill from here folks. Enjoy.
<br/><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/2127545192_3362821a02_o.jpg"/>
<br/>hard drive references make me lul
<br/><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/2126769819_e9744af6f9_o.jpg"/>
<br/>they didn't make wonder man lul. my face hurts from trojan slap.
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>To Wonder Man-
<br/>
<br/>Truth be told, I loved your beard, hairy chest, and pits. Your hard drive was just not enough this time. Sorry you didn't get the joke. I'll miss you wonder man...Maybe if we ever meet again we can play out page 47 in the book you are holding? Call me.
<br/>
<br/>Love always,
<br/>Jesus
<br/>
<br/>P.S. Did you call me Jesus because I made miracles happen?tag:destructoid.com,2008:60788Velocity Micro Giveaway Contest: No Sex for VG Edition #22007-12-21T14:15:35Z2007-12-21T14:15:35Z<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2126769863_91dd8858b4.jpg"/>
<br/>
<br/>Seeing a trend yet? Keep waiting, another set will be posted tonight!
<br/>
<br/>...also, cocks. <img src="http://www.dtoid.com/macros/smile.gif"/>